LAHORE - Parts of the country remained in the grip of sultry weather on Saturday with frequent tripping and unscheduled load shedding adding to the woes of heat stricken people.
Experts have predicted the prevailing harsh weather conditions to persist during the next 2-3 days.
Weather remained hot and humid in most parts of the country. However, isolated rain-thundershower occurred in upper Khyber PK, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Sargodha divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Sibi and Dadu remained hottest places in the country where mercury rose as high as 44 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature in Rohri and Turbat was recorded 43 C, Shaheed Benazirabad, Panjgur, Sukkur, Larkana, Moenjodaro and Bhakkar 42 C.
In Lahore, maximum and minimum temperature was recorded 39 C and 26 C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 43 per cent. People avoided unnecessarily coming out, decreasing traffic on otherwise busy roads at noon and in the afternoon. Lahore canal, as usual, attracted a large number of people including women and children. Not only youth but also elderly people were seen taking bath in the canal water.
At certain places, even women were seen beating the heat by taking a dip in the mud coloured water.
According to the experts, seasonal low lies over North Baluchistan and adjoining areas. Monsoon currents from Arabian Sea are penetrating into central/upper parts of the country. A shallow westerly trough is affecting upper Khyber PK and Gilgit-Baltistan and expected to move eastward during next 24 hours.
Local meteorological department has forecast mainly hot and humid weather for most parts of the country during the next 2-3 days. However, isolated rain-thundershower is expected in upper Khyber PK, Northeast Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.